Device for clamping cranes and the like



ug- 12, l941 F. G, s'coBlE DEVICE FOR CLAMPING CRANES AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l NNN GNQN@ Ilhlhul ln-Il n *Il In I hl IIIIHLII E lf E ,a

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Allg. 12, 1941. F, G, SCQBlE 2,252,648

` DEVICE IIT'OR CLAMPING CRANES AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1940 2"Sheets-She et 2 mum!!! -I-IHHII 3 wom/M "-4 Frank 5606@ Patented Aug. 12, 1941 l Frank G. Scobie, Duluth-Minn. l Application March s, 1940, serial No.32ao49 (ol. 18s-3s)- 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for anchoring cranes, coal bridges, ore bridges or similar machines against wind or other pressure tending to` move lthem along rails or runways on which they are mounted.

An object of the invention is the provision of v a device for anchoring machines in position which are carried by wheeled trucks in s uch a manner that cables, having an intermediateportion wound upon drums and connected with cush- .ioning means will maintain the required tension on the cables at all times to prevent too great a strain on the cables and thus prevent breakage.

Another object of the invention is the Yprovision of a device for anchoring cranes or other machines which arecarried by Wheeled trucks on a runway in such a manner thatthe fastening `means will be permitted to shift in opposite directions for eliminating strain on said vfastening means while maintaining the required tension 4on. said fastening means to hold the wheeledV truck in a predetermined position against wind and other pressure tending to move the trucks along the runways.

A ffurther object of the invention is the provision of a device for anchoring cranes, bridges, or similar machines against` wind pressure or other forces tending to move the deviceralong a runway and including a series of rotatable `.drums each series having an intermediate portion of a cable wound thereon with the ends of the cables being supported beyond the opposite ends of the device by nests of springs iiexibly connected with the ends of the cable to cushion the cable, thereby providing for flexibility and absorption of shocks incident to wind pressure or otherforoes, braking means being employed cn the 4wheeled trucks in cooperation with the cables for holding the trucks against movement. i y

This invention will be best understood fromja` consideration of the following detailed description, in View of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the` invention is not conned to the disclosure, being susceptible of Vsuch changes and modifications as define 'no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the draw-ings: I Y y Figure l is a longitudinal View in elevation' of a wheeled truck carrying a crane and showing means Yior holdingthe wheeled truck in va predetermined position on a track,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical! sectioni l5 ...ing spaced guides for a Gable,

Figure 91s a' fragmentary section ofthe braktaken alongthe line Zee-2.6i Figure 1 showing ,the cable guides` and center rail,

Figure isa fragmentaryplan viewof the retaining means for the trucks,

Figure 1 is asideviewin elevation of a modi- Afied-forint of thebraking means for the vcable Wound on the drum,`

V,Figure 5 is a plan Yvieuwmof'a railroad crossing ,showing the position of the parts when the railroad -crossesa runway for a wheeled truck,

Figurej is a verticalsection talen along the line 6-6 of Figure,

' Figure?, is a vertical section taken along the line ,'l--T of Figure 6, Figure ,8 is aview in perspective of a rail showing.` device :taken along ,the line `9--9 of FigvurelO,

Figure 10is a fragmentaryenlarged side view of the braking device,

l Figure v11 is a; detached plan `view of the cushioningemeans for the cables,v

Figurel2 is a detached plan v iew o f amodiiied for-m. ofi cushioning means.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings,

-l designatesa pair of spaced rails-of a runway Y on which i spaced wheeledi trucks, generally designatedby the numeral `Il aremounted. A pluralitysof wheels .ilzare ofthe usual typeand are f located latfeachzside 4of the .-tlllQkSaIld ride on vthe-railslil; VSaid wheelsgsupportaxles I3 while the frontiv and rearxlof each; truck and are conthe axles .are .connectedvto the' trucks by belings |41 depending fromethef frames of the trucks. Tran'sversely .disposed l-beams l5 are located at nected together by longitudinalbeams I6 at the sides of thetrucks. g

Agbridgingly .truck Ha located between the ytruc'ksll.A and has itsvopposite ends connected "to-theladjacent'ends ofethe-trucls I l by az connection` indicated atill. 4Thistruck is supported 'by Wheels :I8 land'.` l 8sy riding onf a center rail Illa -A longitudinal beam i9, is supported by a'xle's Zllflsupport'edfby the longitudinally alined Pairs o f pulleys :2l and 'Zlare mounted on The pulleysy are pulley is. provided,.wi th va spiral groove `23 as shown `more `particularly'in Figure 9 to receive afcabieza, the-opposite ends .24 and .Z5-0f which `extend .towardsandbeyondnthe trucks. il. fhe intermediate portions of the cables-are Awound upon the pulleys so that the pulleys will be revolved as the trucks tend to shift to the right or left in Figure 3. Bent bars 220 are provided with bearings at the opposite ends for the outer ends of the shafts 22 and 22a.

A brake drum 26 is connected to each of the pulleys 2| and a brake band 21 is engaged around each brake drum. One end of each band is pivotally connected at 28 to an associated bar 220 while the other end 29 is secured to a block 30 mounted upon a rod 3|, One end of the rod projects into a solenoid 32 which is mounted on a bracket 33 secured to the under face of the beam I9. one end in engagement with one end of the solenoid 32 while the other end is in engagement with the block so that the spring will tend to move the end 29 of the band 21 towards the bar 22|] for maintaining the band tight on the brake drum 26 and thus hold the drum 2l against rotation. The solenoid is in a circuit (not shown) and this circuit'includes the power plant forfoperating the bridge or crane, as the case maybe, for moving said bridge or crane as desired.

When the circuit to the solenoids 32 are closed the rods 3| will be withdrawn or moved to the right in Figures l and 10, against the tension of the springs 34 and thus release the brake bands 21 so that the drums 2| may be revolved. It will be noted from Figure 3 that identical arrangements of drums, solenoids, springs and rods are located at each side of the beam |9.-

The ends of the cables extend downwardly through the opposite ends of the trucks and are trained over grooved pulleys 40 carried by brackets 4| projecting from the ends of the truck and outwardly therefrom. The brackets are secured to the bottoms of the I beams I5. Thus the ends of the cables will brought downwardly and held below the tread of the rail Illa.

The cables are extended beyond the opposite ends of the trucks l and along opposite sides of the rail ||ia as shown in Figure 2 and are guided by pairs of spaced ears which are secured in any approved manner to the cross ties or to au plate carried by the cross ties. Y s

A housing at each side of the rail ||la and generally designatedby the numeral (Fig. 1l) is rigidly connected to a concrete block 5|. These blocks are spaced a predetermined distance apart and the trucks are movable between these blocks. Each housing has a movable cross head 52 therein to which are connected spaced rods 53 and a coil spring 54 embraces each rod and has one end abutting the cross head 52 while the.

other end engages the inner end 55 of the housing. The inner ends of the rods 53 are slidable in passages in the end 55 of the housing.

A bridging member 56 is connected to the rods 53 and also to an end of a rod 58, as shown at 51, in any approved manner. Each cable 23a is connected to a rod 58 in any approved manner at each side of the rail IDB. It will be seen by this construction that the cross head in each housing 58 is guided by said housing when there is a pull'Y A spring 34 surrounds the rod 3l and hasv vof the axles.

.said beam in front of the pulley 2 lb. .trics are each provided with an operating arm Referring more particularly to Figures 5 to 7, inclusive, it will be seen that a track composed of a pair of rails 60 cross the rails I0 and llla and the usual construction of frog is employed for the purpose. The rails 60 adjacent the rails llla and the cables 23a are provided with notches 6| of sufficient depth to receive the cables 23a so that said cables will be below the flanges of the wheels of the train passing along the rails 60. Thus the cables will not be cut or marred. These notches 6| are shown more particularly in Fig- `ures 6 and 7 with the bottom 62 of each notch considerably below the treads 63 of the rails 60 so that the flanges 64 of the wheels 65 will revolve in spaced relation with the cables 23a and the cables will be out of contact at all times with the flanges of the wheels.

Referring more particularly to Figure 8 it will be seen that the guides 45 have their upper free ends flared, as shown at 10, to permit the cables '23a to drop in between the spaced guides and will maintain said cables against lateral displacement with respect to the rail |88.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4 it will be seen that a modified form of the braking device is illustrated in which the brakes are applied directly to the cables 23a instead of to the pulleys 2|b which are mounted on an axle 22b supported by bearing bars 22| depending from the beam 19a. Grooved pulleys 2|c are alined with the pulleys 2|b at each side of the beam. The pulley 2lb is devoid of the brake drum 25 `but is provided with the guiding grooves shown in Figure 9. Bars 222 connect the opposite ends Wheels (not shown) similar to the wheels |8 and I8a support the beam i9a and pulleys above the track Illa.

Eccentries 15 at each side of the beam I9a are pivotally mounted on a shaft 16 which is carried by a bracket 11 secured to and depending from The eccen- 19 which is connected to a block 8i] carried at one end of a rod 8| which extends into a respective solenoid 82 at each side of the beam llia so that when the solenoids are energized the rods will .be drawn inwardly of the solenoids and the blocks will move the arms 19 outwardly from the pulleys 2lb. A coil spring B3 embraces each rod 8| and bears against the respective block 80 to force said block against the associated arm 19. When the solenoids are energized the blocks 8D Aare drawn to the right in Figure 4 against the tension of the springs 83 to release the arms 19 and the eccentrics 15.

The cables 23a are normally located between flanges 85 formed at the bottom of the bracket 11 and the eccentric 15 so that when the cam portions of the eccentrics are moved into engagement with the cables 23a by rocking of the arms 19, said cables will be clamped against the flanges 85 thereby retaining the cables against slippage.

Referring more particularly to Figure l2 it will be seen that a modified form of the cushioning means is illustrated. A frame at each side of the rail I0ab is provided which has spaced side walls 5|)a mounted rigidly upon a concrete base 5|- A front wall 55a is not only rigidly connected to the inner ends of the side walls 50'r1 but it is secured rigidly to the base 5|. A sliding bar 52el has its ends engaging a guide on the side walls 50a and is movable towards or away from the front wall 55a.

Compression springs 51|a are located between the Wall 55a and the slidable bar 52a. A rod 53a has its outer end threaded as shown at 59 and passing through an opening in the bar 52, Nuts 59a at oppostie sides of the bar 522 secure the outer end of the rod to said bar.

The inner end of the rod 53ab passes through an opening in the front wall 55a and is provided With an eye 56a adapted to receive a hook on a rod 58a. The inner end of this rod is connected in any approved manner to the outer end 25 of a cable 23a.

In the form shown in Figure 12, when tension is applied to the cables the rod 53 is drawn inwardly as will be the cross head or bar 52a thereby placing the spring 54a under tension so that these springs will absorb the shocks when the trucks on the rails are moved in either direction in any manner.

'I'he operation of my device is as follows: As has been explained above, the invention is predicated upon a device for holding various types of machines in a predetermined position on a runway or track by means of cables coiled over grooved pulleys with the ends of the cables connected to crossheads adapted to compress a plurality of springs whenever force is applied to the ends 24 and 25 of the cables. The resilient cushions to which the ends of the cable are connected provide for a certain amount of flexibility of the cables 23a so that when a force is exerted against the truck by either natural or mechanical means the springs will resist the pull of the cable so that some of the shock or force is absorbed by the springs, thereby eliminating the usual strain on the cable where the cable is maintained taut for holding a wheeled truck in position.

While I have shown three springs it will be appreciated that any number of springs may be mounted in the housing and the number and strength of the springs depends upon the amount of work that will be required of them.

I claim:

1. In an anchoring mechanism, a pair of spaced trucks mounted on spaced rails, an intermediate narrow truck connecting the spaced trucks together and supported in a vertical plane by the spaced trucks, a single rail track running longitudinally beneath the trucks,.wheels on the intermediate truck located in a single vertical plane and supported by the single rail, rotatable members mounted on the intermediate truck at opposite sides of the rail, a cable at each side of the intermediate truck and having a portion thereof Wound on the rotatable members, xed supports, one of each supports being located beyond the outer ends of the trucks, resilient means mounted in the supports, means connected to each end of the cables and adapted to compress the springs when a pull is exerted on the 4cables, and braking means associated with the rotatable members for retaining said members and like- Wise the trucks against movement.

2. In an anchoring mechanism, a pair of spaced trucks mounted on spaced rails and provided with grooved wheels, an intermediate narrow truck connecting the spaced trucks together and supported in a vertical plane by the spaced trucks, a single rail track running longitudinally beneath the trucks, wheels on the intermediate truck, located in a single vertical plane and supported by the single rail, rotatable members mounted on the intermediate truck at opposite sides of the rail, a cable at each side of the intermediate truck and having a portion thereof wound on the rotatable members and frictionally received by the grooved Wheels of the spaced trucks, iixed supports, one of each supports being located beyond the outer ends of the trucks, resilient means mounted in the supports, means connected to each end of the cables and adapted to compress the springs when a pull is exerted on the cables, and braking means associated with the rotatable members for retaining said members and likewise the trucks against movement.

3. In an anchoring mechanism, a pair of spaced trucks riding on spaced rails, means connecting the adjacent ends of the spaced trucks together and supported in a vertical plane by said trucks, a single rail track running longitudinally beneath the trucks, Wheels on the connecting means and supported by the single rail, grooved Wheels carried by the connecting means at opposite sides of the rail, a cable at each side of the intermediate truck trained on the grooved Wheels, fixed supports beyond the outer ends of the trucks, resilient means supporting the ends of the cables in the supports, braking means associated with the grooved wheels for retaining said Wheels and likewise the trucks against movement, and rotatable means suspended from the trucks and frictionally contacting the cables.

FRANK G. SCOBIE. 

